Psalms 135

1 Halelu-JAH. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye slaves of the LORD.

2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,

3 praise JAH; for the LORD is good; sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

4 For JAH has chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his own possession.

5 For I know that the LORD is great and that our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatever the LORD desired, he did in the heavens and in the earth, in the seas and in all the deep places.

7 He who causes the clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth, made the lightnings in the rain; he who brings the winds out of his treasuries.

8 He who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast;

9 sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his slaves.

10 He who smote many Gentiles and slew mighty kings,

11 Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan

12 gave their land for a heritage, a heritage unto Israel his people.

13 Thy name, O LORD, is eternal, and thy memorial, O LORD, from generation to generation.

14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his slaves.

15 The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

16 They have a mouth, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see;

17 they have ears, but they do not hear; neither is there any spirit in their mouths.

18 Let those that make them become like unto them and every one that trusts in them.

19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel; bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:

20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi; ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.

21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion who dwells at Jerusalem. Halelu-JAH.

Psalms 135 Commentary

Chapter 135

God to be praised for his mercy. (1-4) For his power and judgments. (5-14) The vanity of idols. (15-21)

Verses 1-4 The subject-matter of praise, is the blessings of grace flowing from the everlasting love of God. The name of God as a covenant God and Father in Christ, blessing us with all spiritual blessings in him, is to be loved and praised. The Lord chose a people to himself, that they might be unto him for a name and a praise. If they do not praise him for this distinguishing favour, they are the most unworthy and ungrateful of all people.

Verses 5-14 God is, and will be always, the same to his church, a gracious, faithful, wonder-working God. And his church is, and will be, the same to him, a thankful, praising people: thus his name endures for ever. He will return in ways of mercy to them, and will delight to do them good.

Verses 15-21 These verses arm believers against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods the heathen worshipped. And the more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols, the more are we to be thankful that we know better. Let us pity, and pray for, and seek to benefit benighted heathens and deluded sinners. Let us endeavour to glorify his name, and recommend his truth, not only with our lips, but by holy lives, copying the example of Christ's goodness and truth.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 135

This psalm was written very probably by the same hand as the former. It begins in much the same manner; it has some likeness with Psalm 113 and 114. It begins and ends with "hallelujah"; and is throughout an exhortation of praise to God, on account of his name, nature, and perfections; and because of his works of creation, providence, and grace, many of which are enumerated. The Syriac interpreter says, there is an intimation in it of the conversion of the people of the Messiah unto the faith.